Every town must have more homes than expected, as part of Wiltshire Core Strategy

Wiltshire Council says every town will have to find room for more houses than they expected under changes to the county Core Strategy revealed today.

Consultation has started on the changes made necessary by a Government inspector who told the council in December it must allow 42,000 extra homes rather than the 37,000 it had planned for by 2026.

The modified plan published today identifies increased numbers for each town.

In Trowbridge the number of new homes that will be built will go up from 6,000 to 7,000. The plan allows for strategic growth to the south east of the town at Ashton Park, which extends towards the A350 to the south and the railway line to the west.

An additional 950 homes will then be developed at the town once improved secondary school provision is in place toward the end of the plan period and there has been a further assessment of effects on protected bat species and their habitats to ensure they are properly safeguarded.

In Bradford on Avon the number of new homes will go up from 670 to 780 .

Land has been identified to the east of Bradford on Avon on land at Kingston Farm for strategic growth.

In the wider Bradford area the number of new homes will change from 160 to 185.

In Melksham the number of homes will be increased from 1,930 to 2240.

In Warminster the figure will go from 1,650 to 1,920 and in Westbury from 1,290 to 1,500.

Toby Sturgis, Wiltshire Council's cabinet member for spatial planning, said: “Our vision is to create stronger and more resilient communities and by ensuring we have a robust development plan in place to manage growth – both in terms of housing and economic development – we can achieve this.

“We would like to thank everyone who has responded so far and anyone who is interested in helping us achieve the balance between ensuring our communities grow in a sustainable way while protecting this county’s unique identity should look at the document and provide comment.

"We encourage people to get involved as it's community engagement that continues to shape and inform this incredibly important strategy.”

Comments (12)

Yes let's build more homes for our local communities, but make sure that all the services local people need ie. doctors, schools etc are also catered for. We must also address the fact so many immigrants are arriving who haven't paid into the system, should not be placed above the needs of those who have paid taxes all there working lives. Let's put local people first not economic migrants, who think we are a soft touch.

Yes let's build more homes for our local communities, but make sure that all the services local people need ie. doctors, schools etc are also catered for. We must also address the fact so many immigrants are arriving who haven't paid into the system, should not be placed above the needs of those who have paid taxes all there working lives. Let's put local people first not economic migrants, who think we are a soft touch.corshman

Maybe looking at the housing association tenancy agreements may be a start! A couple living in a four bed house as their children have grown up and left home is a home wasted.
An elderly person living in a 3 bed house is a waste of a home.
People who held these housing associations/council
s to ransom when they needed to knock down and re build these homes, giving these people full value of their house in cash, plus a housing association house to live in ( a 3 bed for one or 2 people) Is also a waste of a home.
So many perfectly good homes under-occupied due to ridiculous tenancy agreements.

Maybe looking at the housing association tenancy agreements may be a start! A couple living in a four bed house as their children have grown up and left home is a home wasted.
An elderly person living in a 3 bed house is a waste of a home.
People who held these housing associations/council
s to ransom when they needed to knock down and re build these homes, giving these people full value of their house in cash, plus a housing association house to live in ( a 3 bed for one or 2 people) Is also a waste of a home.
So many perfectly good homes under-occupied due to ridiculous tenancy agreements.trowdave

trowdave wrote:
Maybe looking at the housing association tenancy agreements may be a start! A couple living in a four bed house as their children have grown up and left home is a home wasted.
An elderly person living in a 3 bed house is a waste of a home.
People who held these housing associations/council

s to ransom when they needed to knock down and re build these homes, giving these people full value of their house in cash, plus a housing association house to live in ( a 3 bed for one or 2 people) Is also a waste of a home.
So many perfectly good homes under-occupied due to ridiculous tenancy agreements.

Maybe looking at the housing association tenancy agreements may be a start to what exactly, trowdave?

[quote][p][bold]trowdave[/bold] wrote:
Maybe looking at the housing association tenancy agreements may be a start! A couple living in a four bed house as their children have grown up and left home is a home wasted.
An elderly person living in a 3 bed house is a waste of a home.
People who held these housing associations/council
s to ransom when they needed to knock down and re build these homes, giving these people full value of their house in cash, plus a housing association house to live in ( a 3 bed for one or 2 people) Is also a waste of a home.
So many perfectly good homes under-occupied due to ridiculous tenancy agreements.[/p][/quote]Maybe looking at the housing association tenancy agreements may be a start to what exactly, trowdave?Mrs Donnyfly

It is all very well saying those people should be in smaller houses if they are living in an under occupied house. What about the fact there is a shortage of one and two bed houses, these people still have needs to consider. In many towns they currently live in there is simply nowhere smaller for them to move into. This is why so many people are having to go into private renting, wages are not matching house price rises so many people cannot afford to buy.

It is all very well saying those people should be in smaller houses if they are living in an under occupied house. What about the fact there is a shortage of one and two bed houses, these people still have needs to consider. In many towns they currently live in there is simply nowhere smaller for them to move into. This is why so many people are having to go into private renting, wages are not matching house price rises so many people cannot afford to buy.redrum

Well those families struggling in a 2 bed house or flat with 2 or 3 kids could move into these under occupied family homes then the 2 beds will become more available. Yes more houses will still be needed but correct occupany will help those people who need the space and stop those just want the big houseand spare bedrooms. Its not fair for the families forced into expensive private rents due to people expecting a house for life no matter what their needs.

Well those families struggling in a 2 bed house or flat with 2 or 3 kids could move into these under occupied family homes then the 2 beds will become more available. Yes more houses will still be needed but correct occupany will help those people who need the space and stop those just want the big houseand spare bedrooms. Its not fair for the families forced into expensive private rents due to people expecting a house for life no matter what their needs.trowdave